Improvement in seal-locks



STATES .A'IENT Qrrron IMPROVEMENT lN SEAL-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,519, "dated August 5, 1873; application filed November 13, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS SLAIGHT, of the city of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in Seal-Padlocks, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to the combination of a sealing device with a padlock in such manner that the under side of its escutcheon shall be so fitted into a recess in the front plate of the padlock as to form a device for securing a seal, composed of a small sheet of paper or other suitably-frangible material, in the recess and over the key-hole in said front plate. The object of this invention is to provide a padlock with a seal covering its key-hole, which seal must be ruptured in the act of opening the look, so that the lock cannot be pickednor opened by means of keys by any unauthorized person without the rupture in the seal giving evidence of the fact.

In the drawing forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan of the front plate detached from the lock, showing a recess around the key-hole for containing the seal. Fig. 2 is a view of the interior mechanism of the lock, showing the bow or shackle locked. Fig. 3 shows the bow unlocked. Fig. 4. is a side elevation of the escutcheon, showing its device for securing the seal in its place and the guard covering the key-hole. Fig. 5 shows the interior of the above-mentioned guard and the spring which operates it. Fig. 6 is a plan of the inner side of the escutcheon, showing its device for securing the seal in its place.-

In these figures, A is the recess in the front plate for receiving the seal. B is the escutcheon, having a clutch-hook at its upper end and a lug at its lower end. 0 is the guard covering the key-hole. D is a projection on the inner side of the escutcheon, constructed to fit into the recess A, and having seal-holding pins projecting from its surface. E is an arm forming a part of the dog or lock-hook F. G is the front plate of the lock, constructed with the recess A for receiving the seal surrounding the hey-hole in said plate. H is the bow or shackle of the padlock. K is an arm forming a part of lock-hook F. b is a spring,which operates to close automatically the key-hole guard O. c c are pins for securing any seal 'of the clutch-hook cl enters when the seal-holding device is locked. e is a holein G, through which the clutch-hook 01 passes when the sealholding device is closed. i 11 are holes in recess A for the reception of pins 0 c on the projecting-part D of escutcheon B. 0 is a hingeshaped lug formed on the lower end of escutcheon B, which fits into a corresponding recess, x 00, in the lower edge of the case of the padlock beneath the front plate G. This lug is confined in its recess in the case of the lock when the front plate is secured to the case.

The complete operation of this padlock can now be readily understood. It is as follows: The bow H being thrown back and unlocked, and the several parts detached from each other, a seal of any suitable material or design not easily counterfeited is inserted in the recess A. The escutcheon B is then pressed into this recess, its projection D completely filling it, the pins 0 c and clutch-hook (1 being thereby simultaneously forced through the seal, which is thus immovably secured in its place over the key-hole in the plate G. The bow H is then thrown forward or down upon arm K, which rotates lock-hook F into the eye of the bow H, thereby locking the lock, and simultaneously therewith the arm E is thrown into 7 connection with clutch-hook d of the escutcheon B, thereby locking the said escutcheon and securing the seal. Thus by one positive motionthe simple closing of the bow or shackle H-the lock is both locked and sealed. This lock cannot be lockedwith a key. It is both locked and sealed solely by pressure upon its bow H. Its locking mechanism itself, independently of the seal-holding device herein described, with which it is combined, is substantially the same as that for which Letters Patent of the United States No. 97,127 were granted to me on the 23d day of November, in the year 1869; though in the combination herein described the lock-bolt F is a modification of its homologue shown in my patent above mentioned. This modification has been made in order that said lock-bolt F may perform the officc of a locking-bolt to the clutchhook d of the escutcheon B simultaneously with its entrance into the eye of the bow H. It thus performs a double function.

The operation of unlocking is performed by the insertion and turning of a key or other suitable instrument in the key-hole, which act raises the arm forming a part of the lockhook F interposed between arms K and E, which arm, in rising, throws lock-hook F out of the eye of how H, and simultaneously releases arm E from clutch-hook d of escutcheon B. Thus one positive motion of lock-hook F simultaneously unlocks the lock and disengages the seal-holding device from the lockcase, when a fresh seal can be inserted in. the place of the one necessarily ruptured by the act of inserting the opening instrument in the look.

I do not claim herein as my invention any single device in this lock independently of its sealing mechanism; nor a sealing mechanism itself, broadly, either separately or in combination with a padlock; but as my invention I claim-- In a seal-padlock, a combination of devices consisting of a front plate, G, provided with a recess, A, an escutcheon, B, having a hookclutch, d, a seal-holding device, D c 0, and a lug, 0, attached thereto, substantially as described, and an arm, E, of a lock-hook, F, whereby, through the medium of said hookclutch d, the escutcheon B is securely locked, in the manner substantially as described, for the'purposes set forth.

THOS. SLAIGHT.

Witnesses:

OLIVER DRAKE, THOMAS PAULIN. 

